HC Deb 15 November 1973 vol 864 cc222-4W
Mr. Roger White

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current pay of prison officers on joining the service; and what is the pay structure throughout the service, including fringe benefits and emoluments.

Mr. Carlisle

The following table gives the basic pay rates for non-specialist prison officers in England and Wales. Increments are annual, subject, in the case of new entrants, to completion of a minimum probationary period of one year:

£
Basic grade Officer (weekly) 24.69
(during probation)
26.39
27.20
28.03
28.86
29.68
30.52
31.60
32.84
Senior Officer (weekly) 35.21
36.21
37.26
38.28
Principal officer (weekly) 39.81
41.02
42.18
43.45
Chief Officer II (annual) 2,688.00
Chief Officer I (annual 2,934.00

Enhanced rates or allowances are paid on entry into specialist prison officer grades or for the performance of certain prescribed forms of duty.

All these rates are subject to review with effect from 7th November 1973 and will be further reviewed from 1st January 1974.

In addition, prison officers are entitled to:

  1. (1) Official accommodation at public expense or, if living out is approved, a rent allowance. This varies according to personal circumstances subject to maxima of £389 a year for chief officers and £5.85 a week for other grades, and a London supplement of up to £1.80 a week for all grades.
  2. (2) A free uniform or allowance of £60 a year.
  3. (3) An allowance varying between £19 and £93 a year payable for service at those establishments which have a measure of isolation.
  4. (4) The benefits of the non-contributory Civil Service Superannuation Scheme, subject to the distinction of an earlier minimum retiring age of 55 and the double-counting of service in excess of of 20 years.
  5. (5) Overtime payments at premium rates for hours in excess of 40 per week.

For superannuation and other pay-related purposes the accommodation and uniform or the allowances in lieu are treated, on an agreed basis, as additions to pay.

In most other respects—for example, annual leave, sick leave, expenses—prison officers are subject to general Civil Service arrangements, with certain modifications.